Julian Fantino in hot water after partisan letters posted to government website

Julian Fantino in hot water after partisan letters posted on government website

OTTAWA — Questions of ethics and abuse of power were being raised Tuesday after two letters written by International Development Minister Julian Fantino that were critical of the opposition were found to have been posted on a taxpayer-funded website.

Fantino’s office says the letters were posted to the CIDA website in error. They were later removed.

But at least one opposition member said he didn’t believe the explanation and was considering filing a complaint to the Ethics Commissioner.

The two letters were written a few weeks after Fantino came under fire for indicating the Harper government wants to use Canadian foreign aid to increase the country’s trade and Canadian business activity abroad.

The first letter is dated Dec. 17 and directed at McKay.

McKay had successfully championed a private member’s bill several years ago that laid benchmarks for how Canadian aid could be used in the future, including making poverty alleviation a key consideration.

In an article written in the National Post on Dec. 12, McKay argued that the Harper government’s move to link aid with trade violated the law.

In his 750-word letter, Fantino repeatedly attacks both McKay and the Liberal Party, writing at one point: “Mr. McKay makes an inconsistent and incoherent argument centred on myths; which is ironic but not unexpected given his party’s track record.”

He goes on: “The previous Liberal government, of which Mr. McKay was a member, was one that enjoyed making grand announcements concerning international aid. It had endless priorities, strategies and plans. Results, however, were harder to come by.”

It is at least a matter the Ethics Commissioner should look into

The second letter is dated Dec. 21 and directed at NDP MP Helene Laverdiere, also in response to an article Laverdiere wrote for the Huffington Post that was critical of the new direction for Canadian foreign aid.

Entitled “Dear NDP: CIDA Does Not Need Your Economic Advice,” Fantino’s letter goes on to launch an attack against the NDP and what the minister calls its “reckless economic sideshow to the developing world.”

The two letters were initially published in the National Post and Huffington Post, respectively.

However, federal government rules expressly forbid partisan activity using taxpayer-funded resources like websites.

Questions about the letters having been posted to the CIDA website prompted a quick response from Fantino’s office, which said: “These were posted in error. CIDA has been asked to remove them immediately.”

McKay wasn’t buying the explanation.

“Should we say an intentional accident?” he asked. “It is at least a matter the Ethics Commissioner should look into.”

McKay said he would look at other possible actions as well.

“Either Minister Fantino doesn’t know or doesn’t care about following the rules for ministers,” NDP ethnics critic Charlie Angus said in a statement.

“He is clearly breaking (federal government) guidelines and is abusing government resources. Why is he using taxpayer dollars to pay for an immature and partisan attack on the NDP?”

It was unclear Tuesday evening what possible ramifications could result from a government website having been used for partisan purposes.

The CIDA website also has a section entitled “For the Record” that contains letters in response to news articles and opinion pieces published in various newspapers.

This is only the latest incident to land Fantino in hot water since he took over from Bev Oda as international development minister in July.

In addition to criticisms for the move to link aid and trade, the former Ontario police chief has also been blasted for freezing funding for future aid projects to Haiti.